Kaviyoor Ponnamma
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Female
Birthday
1945-09-10
Day of Death
2024-09-10 (79 years old)
Place of Birth
Kaviyoor, Thiruvalla, Kerala
Kaviyoor Ponnamma
Biography
Kaviyoor Ponnamma (10 September 1945 – 20 September 2024) was an Indian actress who appeared in Malayalam films and television. She began her career performing in theatre dramas before foraying into cinema. She also acted in TV serials and commercials and had playback singing credits in few films
Ponnamma was a four-time Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress winner.
Often called as the "mother to all actors", she acted as mother of almost all actors in her career spanning over decades. At the age of 20, she played the mother of older actors Sathyan and Madhu in Thommente Makkal (1965). She particularly gained critical acclaim for acting as the mother of Mohanlal.
As a five-year-old, she learned music and sang in stage shows. In 1958, she was spotted by Kerala People's Arts Club (KPAC) who was looking for a girl who can sing in their stage play. They also gave her the role of heroine in Mooladhanam, her debut stage drama at age 13. It was directed by Thoppil Bhasi. After five years came her first movie Kudumbini, in which she did the title role of the mother of two children.
Ponnamma died from cancer at Lissie Hospital in Kochi, Kerala, on 20 September 2024, at the age of 79.
Acting
(2022)
Aaraattu
as Voice (Uncredited)
(2021)
Aanum Pennum
as Sumathiyamma
(2021)
(2019)
Mamangam
as Puthumana Thampuratti
(2017)
Achayans
as Roy's Mother
(2017)
(2016)
Oppam
as Jayaraman's valiyammayi
(2016)
Thoppil Joppan
as Marykutty
(2016)
Pa.Va
as Agnes / Sister amma
(2016)
(2014)
Avatharam
as Madhavan's Mother
(2013)
Kadal Kadannu Oru Maathukutty
as Mariyamma
(2013)
Ginger
as Vivekanandan's mother
(2012)
Mr. Marumakan
as Bhavani Amma
(2011)
Christian Brothers
as Joseph Vadakkan's mother
(2011)
(2009)
Ividam Swargamanu
as Elssama
(2009)
Kappalu Muthalali
as Devaki
(2009)
2 Harihar Nagar
as Andrew's mother
(2009)
(2008)
Twenty 20
as Bharathi Amma
(2008)
Gulmohar
as Devaki
(2008)
Manjadikuru
as Muthassi
(2008)
(2007)
Anchil Oral Arjunan
as Sudheendran's mother
(2006)
Baba Kalyani
as Meenakshiyamma
(2006)
Vadakkumnadhan
as Rugmavathi Amma
(2004)
Mampazhakkalam
as Lakshmi
(2004)
Runway
as Bharathi
(2004)
Njaan Salperu Raman Kutty
as Devaki
(2004)
Natturajavu
as Charlie's Mother
(2004)
Vismayathumbathu
as Sreekumar's Mother
(2003)
Hariharan Pilla Happy Aanu
as Padmavathiyamma
(2003)
Pattanathil Sundaran
as Bhavaniyamma
(2003)
Mr. Brahmachari
as Subhadramma
(2003)
Ammakilikkoodu
as Marykutty Teacher
(2002)
Nandanam
as Unni Amma
(2001)
Kakkakuyil
as Sethu Lakshmi Bhai / Thampuratty
(2001)
Uthaman
as Jayaraj's Mother
(2000)
Arayannangalude Veedu
as Lakshmi
(1999)
Ezhupunna Tharakan
as Kunjannamma
(1999)
Njangal Santhushtaranu
as Mother of the orphanage
(1999)
Pallavur Devanarayanan
as Bhageerathi
(1999)
The Godman
as Amarnath's Mother
(1998)
Kottaram Veettile Apputtan
as Appottan's mother
(1998)
Amma Ammayiamma
as Sarada
(1998)
(1998)
(1997)
(1995)
(1995)
(1995)
No: 1 Snehatheeram Banglore North
as Vijayabhaskar's mother
(1995)
Mannar Mathai Speaking
as Meera's Mother
(1994)
Thenmavin Kombath
as Yeshodhamma
(1994)
(1994)
Njan Kodiswaran
as Janaki
(1994)
(1994)
Kudumba Visesham
as Bharathi
(1994)
(1994)
Vendor Daniel State Licency
as Annamma Daniel
(1993)
(1993)
Kalippattam
as Sarojam's mother
(1993)
Chenkol
as Ammu
(1993)
Kavadiyattam
as Sethulakshmi
(1993)
Vatsalyam
as Janakiyamma
(1993)
Gandharvam
as Graceykutty
(1993)
Samagamam
as Annakutty
(1993)
(1993)
(1993)
Sopanam
as Sethulakshmi Varma
(1992)
(1992)
Aayushkalam
as Aby Mathew's Mother
(1992)
(1992)
Mukhamudra
as Lakshmi
(1992)
(1991)
Pookkalam Varavayi
as Nandan's Mother
(1991)
Bharatham
as Devaki
(1991)
Sandhesam
as Bhanumathi
(1991)
Apoorvam Chilar
as Sarojam
(1991)
Kizhakkunarum Pakshi
as Ananthu' Mother
(1991)
Dhanam
as Sivasankarans mother
(1991)
Ulladakkam
as Sunny's Mother
(1991)
(1991)
Aparahnam
as Janakiyamma
(1990)
Ee Thanutha Veluppan Kalathu
as Nurse Leeladevi
(1990)
Midhya
as Rajagopal's Mother
(1990)
(1990)
Kattukuthira
as Manka
(1990)
In Harihar Nagar
as Andrews's mother
(1990)
His Highness Abdullah
as Bhagirathi Valiya Thampurati
(1990)
Kuruppinte Kanakku Pustakom
as Vinayachandran's Mother
(1990)
(1989)
Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal
as Devaki
(1989)
Mazhavilkavadi
as Velayudhankutty's Mother
(1989)
Dasharatham
as Chandradas's mother
(1989)
Ulsavapittennu
as Kalyaniyamma
(1989)
Kireedam
as Ammu
(1989)
Jaathakam
as Janaki
(1989)
Vandanam
as Unnikrishnan's mother
(1989)
Adhipan
as Shyam Prakash's mother
(1989)
Oru Sayahnathinte Swapnam
as Mariamma
(1989)
(1988)
Sathya
as Malayali shop-owner
(1988)
Mukthi
as Madhaviyamma
(1988)
(1988)
(1987)
Irupatham Noottandu
as Meenakshiyamma
(1987)
(1987)
Anantaram
as Yoginiyamma
(1987)
(1987)
(1986)
(1986)
Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal
as Reetha
(1986)
(1986)
Kshamichu Ennoru Vakku
as Shanthamma
(1986)
Iniyum Kurukshetrum
as Kartyayani
(1986)
(1986)
Ennu Nathante Nimmi
as Nirmala's grandmother
(1985)
Thinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam
as Janakikutty
(1985)
Makan Ente Makan
as Paaruvamma
(1985)
Adhyayam Onnu Muthal
as Maash
(1985)
(1985)
Angadikkappurathu
as Rosi
(1984)
Kanamarayathu
as Mother Superior
(1984)
Swanthamevide Bandhamevide
as Lakshmi
(1984)
Kodathi
as Venu's mother
(1984)
(1984)
Thirakal
as Madhaviyamma
(1984)
Ariyaatha Veethikal
as Janakiyamma
(1984)
Manithali
as Zulfikar's mother
(1983)
Sesham Kazhchayil
as Susheela
(1983)
Marakkillorikkalum
as Sharada
(1983)
Mansoru Maha Samudram
as Devaki
(1983)
Nathi Muthal Nathi Vare
as Lakshmi
(1982)
(1982)
Ilakkangal
as Valiyamma
(1982)
(1982)
(1981)
(1981)
Thrishna
as Chinnammu
(1981)
(1981)
(1980)
(1980)
Manushya Mrugam
as Babu's Mother
(1980)
Chamaram
as Ravi's Mother
(1980)
(1980)
Thirayum Theeravum
as Mohan's mother
(1980)
(1980)
(1980)
(1979)
(1978)
Avalude Ravukal
as Lakshmi
(1978)
Rathinirvedam
as Saraswathi
(1978)
(1978)
(1978)
(1978)
(1978)
Kodiyettam
as Kamalamma
(1977)
Itha Ivide Vare
as Kamalakshi
(1977)
(1977)
Jagadguru Aadisankaran
as Kaippilly Aryadevi Antarjanam, Mother of Sankaracharyar
(1977)
Acharam Ammini osaram Omana
as Dhakshayani
(1977)
(1977)
(1977)
(1976)
Amrithavaahini
as Lakshmi
(1976)
(1976)
(1976)
(1976)
(1975)
Prayanam
as Amminiyamma
(1975)
(1975)
(1975)
Utsavam
as Mother of Gopi
(1975)
(1974)
(1974)
Chakravakam
as Soshamma
(1974)
Arakkallan Mukkalkkallan
as Queen Lakshmi
(1974)
Nellu
as Savithri Varassyar
(1974)
Devi Kanyakumari
as Old Lady
(1973)
Nirmalyam
as Velichapad's Wife
(1972)
(1972)
Gandharavakshetram
as Kalamezhuthu Singer
(1972)
Aromalunni
as Thumbolarcha
(1972)
(1972)
Akkarapacha
as Bhageerathi
(1972)
Theerthayathra
as Kochikkaavu
(1972)
Manthrakodi
as Saraswathi
(1972)
(1971)
Vithukal
as Ammini
(1971)
Aabhijathyam
as Janaki Amma
(1971)
Karakanakadal
as Tharathi
(1970)
Othenante makan
as Naani
(1970)
Nizhalattam
as Ravi's Mother
(1970)
(1970)
Thriveni
as Parvathy
(1970)
Cross Belt
as Bhavani
(1969)
Aalmaram
as Ammini Amma
(1967)
(1965)
Odayil Ninnu
as Kalyani
(1965)